The Labyrinth *editing*

Chapter 5

When I awoke, I got my first pang of disappointment of the day. I was still here, in the ships' hold. It was not entirely unexpected, but I still wish it was not so. I want to back at home. I had no idea what time it was, because there were no windows here in our prison, and therefore no means of telling time. I only knew it must either be morning, or nobody else could sleep, because almost everyone was up, but still in their bunks, not making a sound, for fear of waking up those who were lucky and able to still be sleeping. I caught Paris' eye as my gaze drifted across the room, and he made a sad face and patted his stomach, which I knew meant to say that he was hungry. So was I, so I gave him a sympathetic nod and he groaned ever so slightly and lay back down. When were they going to feed us? Surely they did not want us dead by the time we reached Crete. Perhaps they meant to feed us, but they just forgot. I want don't believe this, that they would come down very soon, apologize, and give us our two meals (since I didn't think they would feed us lunch) but I found it very unlikely.  I felt hollowness in my stomach that I have only felt once before, that winter when Sparta attacked, and had to live with Percy's family. There was a food shortage, because we had to have rations of food to feed our soldiers, and a huge thunder storm, that destroyed many crops. It was a hungry year, but in the spring, we planted new crops, and we made it through. Will that happen again? Will we find relief later on? Paris and Adrianne both look very hungry. I know that both of them come from families that don't have enough money for all their children. Paris and Adrianne have always been skinny, hungry-looking kids, and this wasn't helping them at all. They probably didn't have any meals at all before they left. But then again, neither did I. I thought about that mush on our table, and it looked very appetizing all of the sudden. I have always had enough to eat. Not a ton to eat, but enough so that I stay healthy. Now, if this treatment continues, we will all be dead in a few days. The reek of the quarters, I now could not smell, because my nose was now so used to it, it was undetectable. I could not stand it any longer. I buried my face in the blanket, and allowed a single tear to trickle out, travel down the side of my cheek, and fall to the blanket, wetting it in one spot. It was all that I could do not to shed more. I felt imprisoned on my bunk, imprisoned on the ship, imprisoned in the world. There was no escaping the Cretans. I could hardly breathe, like I was being suffocated. Was I to starve here? Or possibly die of the sheer neglect. I hope these Cretans feel guilty. I wanted my father here more than anyone else on earth. He would find a way to brighten this prison up a bit. But no, I do not wish for him to be here. That would mean he will die, like me, a useless, unproductive death. I wanted to do something about it, but I had no idea what. The minutes passed in agony for us. With every second, we all grew hungrier. Finally, after what I guessed to be half an hour, Paris groaned out loud, and was very pale. He was so skinny already, and now they were doing this to him. Maya looked concerned, Adrienne had gone ashen-faced, and Adonis fell on his knees and prayed, probably asking for food. I knew that if we did not get food soon, Paris would most certainly perish in a matter if days, if even that. He rolled over on his bunk and held his stomach, and groaned more. I couldn't watch it any longer. I stood up on shaking legs and walked to Paris slowly as I could so I would not topple and trip on my own feet. Paris saw me coming, but made no movement, just his dark eyes followed me as I went to him. I sat down on his bunk next to him, and he moaned softly.

     "Paris...?" I said uncertainly. He groaned in response. "I-I know you are hungry, but there is no food yet... But they will have to feed us soon. You just hang in there." but Paris just looked at me a shook his head. "Yes they wi-" I started to insist, but Paris just cut me off.

     "No, it's not that, Xenia. I am not that hungry. We have only been here one day. I can do a week without food just fine. I'm used to it. I feel very sick. I think it was the water..." he trailed off with a groan. I followed where his gaze went-right to the water barrel, covered in flies. I slowly walked over to it, and then peered inside. It was not a pretty sight. The water was foul and greenish. There were rat droppings in it, which told me that a rat had been drinking the water, and rats carry all sorts of diseases. I thought Paris was a little dumb to drink from it, but I am one to talk, because I am so hungry, I am about ready to eat the dead roaches on the floor. I walked back to Paris, skirting around a pile of rodent bones that the cat onboard must have left behind. I sat down again. Maya is watching me with a questioning look, which obviously meant she was wondering if he was okay. I pointed to the water and then to him and shook my head sadly. Maya stood and checked out the barrel, and made a sick face to tell me that she was disgusted with its condition like I was. She joined me at Paris' bedside and brushed the hair out of his face. Maya is the caring, motherly type person, whereas I am more of the reckless one. If I did anything to try and heal him, I'd probably end up killing him, so I just let Maya take charge of the doctoral stuff. She told him to get some rest, and see how he felt in an hour. As I walked back to my bunk, I stopped by the water barrel again for another look. And that's when I saw it. At first I saw only a shadow at the bottom of the barrel, then, on closer examination, I saw a figure, small and dark, floating idly near the bottom. A rat. I shrieked, which awakened all those who were asleep. Adonis covered his ears once he saw that I was not in any danger, and told me to be quiet. At least Esmeralda was nicer.

     "What's wrong, Xenia?" she asked though she had a dull voice, as if she knew nothing was wrong at all. My voice trembled as I answered her.

     "R-rat." was all I could stammer. Theseus snorted in laughter. "No! It's not just a rat! It's dead!" This made Theseus burst out laughing, which made me lose it."Come look at this!" I tried again, getting agitated with their uncooperative manner. Nobody came. They all thought I was a joke. "I found out why Paris is sick." I tried again. This sparked at least Maya's curiosity.

     "You found out why he's sick? I thought it was from bad water." she said, confused. I nodded.

     "And I found out why it was bad." I answered. "Come take a look." To the everlasting credit of Maya, she was the first to hop to her feet and hurry over. I pointed to the dead rat floating in the drinking water, and she let out a small gasp, clutching my arm.

     "We-we need to get that out. Will someone help?" she asked innocently. When nobody answered, she glared around at all the boys except Paris, because we didn't want him anywhere near the rat that had already made him sick. "Now." Maya commanded with an edge to her voice. I looked over at Theseus. I decided that two could play at this game of insults.

    "Why don't we have Theseus do it? He thought it was very funny. I think it should be him that does the honors." The second I said it, I was sorry. This was no way to get Theseus on my side. But I had already said it, so I let it go. Theseus' eyes narrowed at me evilly, and he did not budge. But Maya thought this was a very good idea. She smiled brightly as she said,

     "Oh would you, Theseus? That would be wonderful! Come on then." she said   without faltering, a feat I could never have managed without laughing. Theseus got up slowly, with much effort, and walked over to the barrel where Maya and I were standing. He eyed the rat conspicuously, then without hesitation, plunged his hand in and fished the rat out, and pulled it up. It sat there hanging in his hand, dripping wet. It was quite disgusting. Maya took a step back. Theseus looked around as if waiting for someone to instruct him on what to do with the dead rodent. I walked to the door and opened it, something I was not supposed to do, and motioned for Theseus to drop it out there for the Cretans to step on. If they ever get their butts down here to feed us... I thought sadly. Theseus followed me and chucked the rat out the door. I waited for him to step out the doorway, so I could close the door that was most definitely not supposed to be opened, but he didn't. Then after a second of standing there, staring at me with an angry expression on his face, he shoved my inside, so I fell on my backside.

     "What was that for?" I shouted angrily after his retreating back. Paris stirred in his sleep at the sudden upraise of voices. Theseus did not answer, just went and climbed onto his bunk, layer down, and closed his eyes as if nothing happened. Maya rushed to help me.

     "Xenia! Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. I waved her aside, but she sat back and watched me still, eyes wide. I got up and brushed my chiton off briskly. By the way I walked evenly to my bunk, you might think I didn't care. But I did. In fact, I was planning my revenge in my mind already. I smile. Because if Theseus knows anything about me, he knows that my best skills are knife throwing, lying, thievery, and of course, revenge. I hoped to Nemesis in my mind, to help me find a good one.